- Yes.
- No.
- In a future Dutch/BeNeLux techtree.
- In the French BeNeLux sub-tree.
- Other (Please explain in the comments).
- I said “No” in the first question.
Hello everyone, I’m on a mission to suggest every single M4 Sherman tank used by the Netherlands!
This is the Dutch M4A1(76)W!
A single Dutch M4A1(76)W in a military patrol with other M4A1E8(76)W’s
Source: Foto's
History
Spoiler
As soon as the second world war had ended, the Netherlands was in a bad shape. Years under German occupation had left it broken and without any kind of Army. Getting the Army up and running again was a top priority for the Netherland leadership.
When all the allied forces were moving out of Europe they didn’t take everything with them. Many large militairy dumps could be found in various locations. In the Netherlands there were two large onces, one at the Deelen Airbase, and one near Enschede. The Deelen dump was filled with ex-Canadian equipment, and the Enschede dump with both British and Canadian equipment.
It was determined that a total of 7373 vehicles were present in these militairy dumps. And the Bureau of Spoils of War would end up buying 1168 of these for a total of 1 Million Guilders. While the dump in Enschede was mostly filled with tanks, these were almost all older 75mm armed Sherman types. A handfull of 17-pounder armed M4 Composite’s were also in these dumps, but these were in a bad state.
However, now we get to the topic of this suggestion. In 1950 and early 1951, the Dutch would recieve 50 M4A1W(76)'s from the US to use in training schools. One annoying thing we run into now is that there had not been any distinctions made between the VVSS and HVSS suspensions on these 50 tanks. What we see on photos of these tanks in Dutch service is that almost all of them were the E8 model with the HVSS suspension.
But as can be seen in the photo at the starts of this post, a lone M4A1(76)W with the VVSS suspension can be seen. For all I know this might have been the only one the Dutch Army had.As far as the Army was concerned, a Sherman was a Sherman. So the VVSS models of the M4A1(76)W would end up together with the HVSS models and go to the training schools. While these tanks were reserved for the training schools, these were at this time the best tank the Dutch had. As time went on and newer better tanks came into Dutch service, these old Shermans were slowly taken out of service.
As for the, most likely, single M4A1(76)W with VVSS suspension the Dutch had, it’s very likely that it ended up going to the gunnery school where it would be used for target practice. A single rusted out and shot to pieces M4A1(76)W remains to this day in the National Military Museum in Soesterberg. Maybe this was the only VVSS model the Dutch had of the M4A1(76)W, but either way it’s nice that at least something remains of it to this day.
That marks the end for specifically the Dutch M4A1(76)W. Sadly there are no special features that would set this M4A1 apart from the standard US model.
Specifications
Spoiler
Mass: 32 tons
Crew: 5Powerplant: Continental R-975 C1 radial engine
Engine horsepower: 400 hp
Max speed: 39 km/h
Suspension type: Vertical Volute Spring System (VVSS)
Track extensions available: “Duckbill” end connectors on the outside of the tracksArmour:
Hull: (Large Hatch, Late 1-Piece Differential Cover)
- Front: ~63.5 mm at ~47°
- Sides: ~38.1 mm at ~0°
- Rear: 38.1 mm at 9°
- Roof: 19.5 mm
Turret: (T23 turret)
- Mantlet: 88.9 mm
- Front: 63.5 mm
- Sides: 63.5 mm
- Rear: 63.5 mm
- Roof: 25.4 mm
Armament:
- 1 x 1 76 mm M1 cannon
- Ammunition storage: 71 rounds
- 1 x 1 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
- Ammunition storage: 600 rounds
- 2 x 1 7.62 mm M1919 machine guns (One coaxial, one in the front hull)
- Ammunition storage: 3000 rounds
Ingame
Spoiler
I know what you might say, it’s just another M4 Sherman. And you’d be right! Normally the vehicles I suggest are unique vehicles I’d want to see ingame. But in this case it’s just a 76mm armed M4A1 Sherman.
The reason I’m suggesting this, and all other Dutch operated Sherman tanks, is because I feel that they are still a necessary part of a potential independent BeNeLux techtree (Not the sad sub-tree we have now). ← Written on the 27th of Januari 2025The Sherman tank was the backbone of the Dutch Army just after the second world war, so they do have some historical value to the Dutch.
Ofcourse the BeNeLux has been added to France, so this is now the only option where Dutch vehicles will go to. But it must be said that the Netherlands and France have nothing in common, and do not make sense to combine together ingame.
The remains of a Dutch M4A1(76)W in the National Military Museum in Soesterberg, it had been used for target practice
Source: I took this photo myself, K.K. Janssen
That would be all for today, see you next time!
Sources
Spoiler
Main source:
- “Wiel en Rups, Voertuigen van de landmacht 1945-2015” book by Sander Ruys
Extra sources:
Engine:
Photos: